By Alexander Fynn.
As the season begins to enter its climax, promotion hopefuls Bridlington host Roundhegians at Dukes Park, with a 3pm kick-off.
The match could send the title race to the wire, with the table currently showing Old Otliensians sitting at the summit on 74 points, Roundhegians on 72, and Bridlington on 70.
Bridlington won on the road last week as they made their third visit in as many weeks to West Yorkshire, facing Bradford & Bingley and running out 29–37 victors. However, they narrowly lost by a point to both Baildon and fellow title contenders Old Otliensians in previous weeks.
Visitors Roundhegians have been in superb form recently, winning their last two matches. They first beat Baildon 56–20, before going on to triumph against Huddersfield Laund Hill 37–14.
Callam Sanderson had this to say ahead of Saturday’s return to Dukes Park:
“I think we’ve prepped as well as we could have done this week. We’ve got a few changes to the side, but we’ve still got a strong squad out, which speaks volumes about the depth we have in the first-team squad.
“We’ve already played Roundhegians twice in the Yorkshire Shield and once in the league. We’ve beaten them both times away, and that gives us a lot of confidence. Both times, though, they’ve shown a lot of attacking threat. They’ve got a young, talented group of backs who like to play an expansive game, I’d say.
“When the pitch and ball are drier, it will favour them more. In December, we beat them in wet conditions because we focused on set pieces. We’re coming off a good five-point victory over Bradford & Bingley, and I have every faith in the side to get the job done.”
“We’ve got debutant Freddie Foster, 18 years old, making his first start in the second row, which is really pleasing as he’s come through the minis and juniors pathway. Zane Fenton comes back into the centres alongside captain Will Davies, and Ryan Fowler starts at hooker with Corban Oakes.”
